Grammar Point:
才 cái has the function of indicating an occurrence that happened later or slower than expected. It can also be used to express “as late as” or “not until” in English.
Structure
S + Time word + 才 cái + V
不好意思,你們先吃吧!我大概八點才會到不好意思,你们先吃吧!我大概八点才会到
Sorry, you go ahead and eat first! I probably won’t arrive until around 8 o’clock.
他明年才會來台灣他明年才会来台湾
He won’t come to Taiwan until next year.
現在客人比較多,餐點要30分鐘才會好现在客人比较多,餐点要30分钟才会好
There are many customers now, so it will take 30 minutes for the meal to be ready.
你怎麼28歲才從大學畢業?你怎么28岁才从大学毕业?
Why did you graduate from college at 28?
(People usually graduate from college at 22 to 24, so 28 is later than I expected.)
為什麼現在才告訴我今天是你生日为什么现在才告诉我今天是你生日
Why you hadn’t told me it’s your birthday till now?
我昨天趕報告,一直到半夜3點才睡我昨天赶报告,一直到半夜3点才睡
I was trying to catch upon the report yesterday, so didn’t sleep until 3 am.
Time words can be omitted when the context is clear to both the listener and the speaker.
你才來,電影都開始了!你才来,电影都开始了!
You’ve just arrived, and the movie has already started!
你怎麼才說,大家剛剛問你時幹嘛不說你怎么才说,大家刚刚问你时干嘛不说
Why did you only say it now? You were quiet when everyone was asking a while ago.
FYI
“干嘛 gànmá” is a super common colloquial expression in Taiwan Chinese that can be used in two different ways depending on the context. Here are some examples:
Expressing why:
• 干嘛这么晚还不睡觉?gànmá zhème wǎn hái bú shuìjiào? – Why aren’t you sleeping yet so late?
• 干嘛不试试看?gànmá bú shìshì kàn? – Why don’t you give it a try?
Expressing do what:
• 你在干嘛? nǐ zài gànmá? – What are you doing?
• 你週末打算干嘛? nǐ zhōumò dǎsuàn gànmá? – What do you plan to do on the weekend?
- If you want to express earliness, you should use 就 jiù.
Common Mistake
Do not add 了2 le with 才 cái, that’s the rule. Don’t ask me why. If you really want to soften the sentence, you can add 呢 ne at the end of the sentence.
He didn’t get married until he was 70 years old.
他到70歲才結婚了他到70岁才结婚了 ❌
他到70歲才結婚呢他到70岁才结婚呢 ✅
Practice
TouchHover over the space to see the answers.
✔️ You just know it now?
你現在才知道啊?你现在才知道啊?
✔️ I’ve just left the house, so I might be late. Sorry about that.
我剛剛才出門,應該會遲到,不好意思我刚刚才出门,应该会迟到,不好意思
✔️ You’re only seeing this website now, which is a bit late, but not too late. 😎
你現在才看到這個網站,有點晚但不算太晚你现在才看到这个网站,有点儿晚但不算太晚
Other 才 cái related posts: